On Thursday, the bride confirmed the sad news that her father, Thomas Markle, would not be present when she became an official member of the royal family as he recovered from heart surgery.

“Unfortunately, I do not want to attend my wedding anymore. I have always taken care of my father and hope that he can get the place to focus on his health.

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“I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous announcements about support.” How much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday, “she wrote in a statement.

So who will honor in his place? Kongelige seere have quite a few theories, though the front runner is Harry’s own father, Prince Charles.

“If there is a member of the royal family that should help, and go Meghan down at a time, it would be the prince of Wales,” said King Expert Ingrid Seward to U.K.’s Expressen.

The royal historian Carolyn Harris repeated the mood to E! And said “there has certainly been speculation” that Charles will step in, and that would probably do so if the bride and groom asked him about it. It is clear that Harry and his bride have a good relationship with Harry’s father – they postpone their honeymoon trip to attend his birthday next week.

Markle would not be the first royal bride who would have her mother give her away either. Dronning Victoria gik til af sine døtre, prinsesse Helena og prinsesse Beatrice ned ad gangen i henholdsvis 1866 og 1885. The queen walked in when her husband, Prince Albert, had passed by before any of the weddings.

It is not the only opportunity for Markle on Saturday’s royal wedding. The former American actress can once again go to tradition and go solo down the hall, especially if she takes a signal from her good friend Serena Williams. Bare en tid før hendes bryllup sidste år meddelte Williams far og langvarig tennis trænder Richard Serena, that he did not feel comfortable walking her down the hallway and said he was too nervous. Serena trøstede sin langt og gik selvsikkert ned ad gangen.

Andre kongelige fans har foreslået, at prins Philip eller prins William vil ledsage Markle på sin store dag, selv om det heller ikke er ret usandsynligt. 96-year-old Philip is still recovering from hip therapy, and his participation in the wedding is in question, while Prince William will wait with Harry at the altar as his brother’s best man.